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Iowa community drops plan to shock official for fundraiser

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July 14th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

VAN METER, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa community has changed its plan to raise money by offering a chance to shock a city official with a stun gun. The Des Moines Register reports that Van Meter city officials will let the winner of a raffle shoot a stun gun at a target, rather than shock the city administrator or a City Council member.

The idea of selling $5 raffle tickets for the right to shock an official was intended to raise money to help the police department buy a second squad car, add speed radar and potentially expand its six-member part-time and reserve force. Officials changed their plan after facing criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and others. Some business agreed to donate money if officials changed their plans.